Most of the metal work is now completed. I have a home-built carrier on a considerably larger tractor, 3-point hitch, and often have to secure things that are being hauled to keep them in place during the move.

For the carrier for the IH, welding a couple of rings like these to the vertical flange of the angle frame on each side might be very useful for ropes or chains to secure cargo. They would be positioned so that the rings swing in the horizontal direction. That should keep them out of the way unless they are needed. For those of you have have and use a carrier on your Cub, how does this idea sound?

If anyone has an original IH carrier for the one-point, what size (diameter) are the bolts through the front vertical angles? Thanks for all your help.

In an earlier post, I speculated that the bolted assembly was for the purpose of shipping knocked-down for space saving. The only other possible advantage I see is that repair would be easier if just one of the sides should be damaged in use. Strongly considering just going with a fully welded assembly with the only bolts being the ones attaching the wood. What are your opinions on this?

The only other reason I can think of for bolting it together is if a part (most likely the prong in this case) could be reused on another implement. I am not aware of any of the carrier being reused anywhere else.

You aren't trying to duplicate the original. Go ahead and weld it if it is more convenient for you.

Perhaps I should argue with myself. I am not qualified to really analyze the forces on the various parts as the carrier is in use. But the bolts first serve to clamp the parts together- putting the bolts in tension. Every other force on the bolts is shear. Lifting a load, for example. One might imagine that the IH engineers determined that the 5/8 bolt would hold all the sheer that the lift of the 140 could impose on it. But if an inattentive operator should back the carrier into a tree with some speed, the bolt might shear before some major part is damaged, such as breaking a final drive. The 140 has, I think, a very fast reverse gear and attentiveness is essential. It could hit an obstacle in reverse gear quite hard.Tightly clamped parts, along with the clamping fastener, will withstand much higher shear forces than the shear strength of the fastener alone. So the "shear pin" ability is not assured. But the knockdown ability would appeal to the accounting and shipping departments. And to dealers who stocked the carrier. Decisions, decisions.

Decided on the bolted construction. Welding is complete. The parts list does not show the length of the deck boards. On Rudi's website, there is sketch showing the deck boards with an appreciable overhang, but no dimensions. Presumably the length would be either 4 feet or 5 feet. For the somewhat limited lifting capacity and the relatively narrow deck (about 28") behind the tractor, the length of the boards is most likely 4 feet. Can anyone confirm? Thanks for the helpful responses that have brought this project to this point.

Not the best time to mention it, but Bob Perry made me a 2x2 receiver similar to what Rick Prentice was making. It would readily accept a carrier that is commonly available (I got a nice one with another purchase). Not to mention it will accept all the other 2x2 stuff. Not the best picture, but you get the idea: